what they said about Elvis

That's the real trick, isn't it? Knowing the line between dangerous and too dangerous, and vowing not to cross it.

Graceland photos from the web

I have more pictures of Elvis Presley's home to put up here, but there are lots of pictures of Graceland to be found in the internet. Though there aren't many, I particularly like the photos here. They have a certain artistic edge to them, which is fitting given the location.

Linky & Dinky have some photos which they claim to be of the closed-off second floor. I guess only Priscilla and Lisa Marie can verify if they are authentic, but they sure are in the same style of the rest of the home.

In July 1999, Rick and Jen Umali visited Graceland and took several photos. They paid $10 to tour the house. Nine years later, the ticket prices has almost tripled.

the grounds of Graceland

Here's another view of the entrance to Graceland. We were some of the last people to take the tour for the day, so fortunately there weren't any tourists around to block the view. As you can see, the shades on the second floor are drawn so no one can see inside. The second floor is blocked off to visitors and workers alike. Supposedly, only a few people, other than Priscilla and Lisa Marie, have seen the upstairs since Elvis' death. The audio tour guide said that the second floor was blocked off because Elvis didn't allow his guests upstairs.

This next photo is of the back portion of the home. I believe this is just outside the "jungle room."

Here is the pool, on the right side of the house (as you're looking at it from the street). My youngest daughter didn't understand why we couldn't let her go swimming.

Elvis apparently loved horses, and enjoyed keeping them on his property. I don't know if these two are related to the ones he kept.


This last photo is of the swingset Elvis bought for his little girl, Lisa Marie. I don't know if she has allowed her own children to come and give it a try.

Beale Street

I didn't just visit Graceland when I went to Memphis. We also spent an evening on Beale Street, a section of Memphis that's rich with African American history. We ate dinner with some of The Wife's relatives at this funky little blues place. I won't give you the name of the place, because it wasn't very good and they weren't going to play any music until several hours after we had left.

Here's another look at that guy in the red zoot suit. I wanted to talk with him about what he was wearing, but I wasn't sure how I would come across.

We did a lot of window shopping. Many of the stores had unusual names and signs.

No, we didn't go into Tater Red's. A little too creepy for the kiddies.

Graceland's kitchen

There is certainly a timeless quality to Graceland, but the most dated room is definitely the kitchen. It really does some that the 1970's pulled open the refrigerator, grabbed some grub, sat down, and just never really left.

I was tempted to pick up this vase, but I controlled myself. Besides, I didn't want to get arrested for trying to boost something from Elvis' place.

The appliances are really what make the room.

visiting Graceland

So here it is, definitive proof that I did indeed walk around Elvis' place. I didn't see him in person, just his gravesite. His parents are bured beside him, as well as one of his grandmother's (his father's mother, I believe). Did you realize that Elvis was outlived by his father and his grandmother (who also outlived her son)?

We were one of the last visitors to tour the house, so I was able to take several unobstructed (read: no fellow tourists) shots. The house, by no means small, isn't as large as I had imagined it would be. I've seen many homes in Carmel and other expensive spots around Indy that are much larger. Then again, Elvis came from very humble beginnings and he was 22 years old when he bought the place, so it must have seemed absolutely huge to him.

After you walk into the house and turn to the right, you see the living room. Obviously, Elvis was a fan of peacocks. That's no suprise, given his use of dramatic and detailed jumpsuits later in his life. Velvet - not suede - ropes keep visitors from walking through the living room.

in Memphis

I'm in Memphis right now, blogging from the hotel computer. Which means, I don't have any pictures I can put up yet, since my laptop is at home. When I get a chance, I'll give you a peak as to what we did. For now, I'll just tell you that we (1) went to Graceland, (2) walked around Beale Street and avoided zombies, (3) saw where MLK was assassinated, and (4) ate BBQ at the Neely's place.